Lesson Five

 

The Baptism In The Holy Spirit
Lesson Five: The Initial Evidence One Has Received The Holy Spirit- Part One

 

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TEXT: Acts 2:4  - And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
 

As we continue our third installment in this series on the baptism in the Holy Ghost let me lay a quick foundation of what our ministry believes concerning the infilling of the Spirit for believers AFTER they come to Christ at salvation:

1 Cor. 14:4-10
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies the church.

 

This journal is about the EVIDENCE that one has received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. If we have not offended people off our website with the first two journals in this series, this one may tip the cart for when we discuss "speaking with other tongues," friend all HELL breaks loose among the non-Pentecostal world and sadly in an ever increasing and alarming fashion even among many Pentecostals and Charismatics! We teach, according to the Word of God, that the ONLY WAY one can be assured that one has been baptized in the Holy Ghost is by the act of speaking with other tongues as the SPIRIT OF GOD gives the utterance! Please understand we are not saying "tongues" are the ONLY evidence one is walking in a Spirit-filled manner but what we are saying is the INITIAL PHYSICAL EVIDENCE one has been baptized in the HOLY GHOST will be when that believer speaks with other tongues as the SPIRIT OF GOD GIVES THE UTTERANCE. Repeat that last phrase over and over in your heart today - "THE SPIRIT OF GOD GIVES THE UTTERANCE."

 

Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Let me state this again before you click on the "X" at the top right hand corner: speaking in tongues is NOT the ONLY sign, for there are any number of additional signs, but we DO believe that tongues are the INITIAL sign and evidence that will take place in the believer's life when he/she are baptized in the Holy Spirit. One cannot say I have "joy" so that means I'm Spirit-filled; one cannot say I am this or that or a myriad of other things and say that's how I know I've been filled with the Spirit. The ONE WAY you can know for sure you've experienced the baptism in the Holy Ghost is by what took place with individuals who were baptized in the Holy Ghost according to the book of Acts- they spoke with tongues as the Spirit of God gave them the utterance.

 

Let's take a look at the Word of God to confirm this. There are FIVE separate incidents in the book of Acts which describe individuals being baptized in the Holy Ghost that cover a period of over 20 years. Then, there is a lengthy dissertation the Holy Spirit had Paul write in the 14th chapter of 1 Corinthians concerning the use of tongues in the corporate body but also for the individual believer.

This particular verse states that "And they were ALL filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit of God gave them utterance." This needs no further explanation. it is clear, concise and to the point. As the late Donald Gee once wrote, "a large part of the distinctive witness of the Pentecostal revival today is that the supernatural STILL accompanies the Christian gospel." When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost there was supernatural events taking place! The SAME SPIRIT that came at Pentecost is HERE TODAY friend so common sense would tell us that He has not stopped producing SUPERNATURAL results NOW despite the clamor from some camps that "All of this went away with the apostles." These critics are hard-pressed to find New Testament grounds for these theories mind you but they scream them anyway from behind pulpits and the unbelieving masses in the church clamor after them with glee. Let this writer make it clear - He's not clamoring after them and any church the Lord helps him start won't be clamoring after such foolishness either! We are going to believe God and trust in the mighty power of the Holy Ghost. We're going to preach the mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance! We are going to cry out to God for another Pentecost that will shake us to our core and bring us to our knees in intercession and prayer! No true message of the gospel will ever be void of the power of God. We preach CHRIST CRUCIFIED and because we preach Christ Crucified we also preach the POWER of His resurrection - the HOLY GHOST!

 

The evidence those gathered at Pentecost were filled is stated WITHOUT debate - "They began to speak with other TONGUES as the SPIRIT OF GOD gave them the utterance."

Acts 8:16-23
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) [17] Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. [18] And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, [19] Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. [20] But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. [21] Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. [22] Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. [23] For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

In the 8th Chapter of Acts, we read of a tremendous revival that took place under the ministry of Philip. Souls were saved, miracles occurred and they were baptized in water "in the name of the Lord Jesus." They were "born again" just as Jesus said in John 3:3-8. The Spirit of God came inside to dwell these Samaritan believers JUST as He comes inside the any New Covenant believer today. This event took place AFTER the Cross which as we've stated numerous times was the earmark event that made it possible for the Holy Ghost to dwell in man and man to become a habitation of God through His Spirit.

 

Ephes. 2:22
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

 

After this great revival, Peter and John came from Jerusalem and prayed for the Samaritans to receive the Holy Spirit. In part two of this series we established the fact the baptism in the Holy Ghost was a separate and distinct work of grace AFTER salvation. Luke records what took place in verses 16-23 stating the Holy Ghost "had not 'fallen' upon them i.e. they had not been baptized in the Holy Ghost but they HAD BEEN SAVED and Baptized in WATER in the name of the Lord Jesus. The term "upon" is the same term used in Acts 1:8 that describes what will happen when the Holy Ghost will come UPON any believer who asks and seeks His help and power:

 

Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

While Luke said nothing about the Samaritans speaking in tongues, he did state in verse 18 and 19 that Simon the Sorcerer SAW that through the laying on of apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given and as a result offered Peter and John money that he might also have this power so HE might lay his hands on people so that they would receive the Holy Spirit. It seems obvious to any normal minded person that this greedy individual would not offer money if there had not been some tangible manifestation of results that day when Peter and John laid hands on those who had believed Philip's preaching and had been born again. If the laying of hands had no VISIBLE and AUDIBLE results following it, why would he offer to pay the apostles for their "secret?" Peter's rebuke gives us insight that something happened when he said "YOU HAVE NO PART NOR LOT IN THIS MATTER," meaning "Simon, what you are witnessing is SUPERNATURAL and of God, not men!"

 

Acts 4:21-23 - Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. [22] Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. [23] For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
 

The logical conclusion one can easily draw if one is honestly seeking truth as to what took place in Samaria is that those Peter and John prayed for, "spake with other tongues as the Spirit of God gave them utterance," just as they did on the Day of Pentecost!

Acts 9:17
And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

A second occurrence when one was baptized in the Holy Ghost is what took place with Saul of Tarsus, the killer of Christians, who became Paul, one of the greatest apostles who ever lived. Saul was saved on the road to Damascus when the bright light of the Lord's glory shone around him and he was blinded by its radiance. The Lord spoke to a man named Ananias to go find Paul in a 'street called straight' and lay hands on him that he might receive his sight "and be filled with the Holy Ghost. We read in Acts 9:17 that when Ananias obeyed the Lord, put his hands on Saul, Saul was filled with the Holy Ghost. Again, it does not state in this passage specifically that Paul spoke with tongues when this occurred HOWEVER, based upon what we read what happened in Samaria and on the Day of Pentecost, we can conclude that it was at this point that Paul DID speak in tongues because he would write later in his first letter to the Corinthians, "I speak with tongues MORE THAN YE ALL."

 

1 Cor. 14:18  - I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

That leaves the reader NO DOUBT as to whether Paul was Pentecostal or not. I heard one Baptist radio preacher the other day in our fair city proclaim glibly that their church was opposed to ALL manifestations of the Holy Ghost including and especially speaking in tongues, which he of course labeled of Satan. He went on to state that "even if the Apostle Paul came into our meetings speaking in tongues we'd kick hi out." I heard chuckles in the background when he said this so I'm sure his people glibly went along with this idiot's view of Scripture. Friend, Paul received this tremendous gift which would enable Him to write 3/4 of the BIBLE we read today! The HOLY GHOST power of Pentecost is what birthed the Scriptures we read and call the INSPIRED WORD OF GOD!

 

I would love to look this brother in the eye and ask him, "would you really kick the man who wrote 3/4ths of the Bible out of your church because he spoke with tongues?" Are you that moronic and stupid? Or are you just not saved at all and need to receive this enduement of power we speak of? Folks, we have a problem when people can dip, smoke, curse, whorehop, get drunk at the bar on Saturday night and get up and lead singing on Sunday, be openly homosexual or lesbian and be members AND now leaders in GOOD STANDING IN MOST CHURCHES; but if these same people get saved THEN get baptized in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues and quit the whorehoping, quit the homosexuality, quit the getting drunk on Saturday and singing in church on Sunday, quit the dipping, quit the smoking, quit the cursing, quit the adultery then they are kicked out of the church and excommunicated because they were baptized in the Holy Ghost and now speak with other tongues!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Get mad at me for saying that if you wish but friend that is the state of a TON of churches. We have a problem when the seed of Satan comes in through this ungodly entertainment we call "Christian Rock" and don't stand up and call it for what it is - EVIL, WICKED, SINFUL, DARKNESS, FULL OF THE DEVIL and anything you want to add to that list you can. I think you get the picture. The Holy Ghost does not condone such foolishness and things that bring our children to hell itself instead of intimacy with Christ.

 

My brother called me just last week and told me a huge Baptist church in Dayton, Ohio sent out a memo to the missionaries it supports overseas and "encouraged them NOT to pray in another tongue if they had received what the Pentecostals call 'the second blessing." The memo stated that it was against Baptist theology and doctrine and bad for the missionaries to do such. BAD FOR THEM TO PRAY IN THE HOLY GHOST AS THE SPIRIT OF GOD GIVES A SUPERNATURAL UTTERANCE THROUGH THEM????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? What drug induced state are these church leaders ON I ask you friend? Folks, I'm not trying to be mean but we need to wake up and be SHAKEN out of this religious demonic curse we call "church" in these last days. The powers of darkness most of those missionaries will come against in foreign lands don't respect Baptist theology or doctrine, no offense Baptists. What do they do RESPECT and tremble under is the anointing and POWER of the HOLY GHOST. And when a missionary bows their knees and prays until the Spirit takes over and starts praying through them in another tongue - all hell trembles; all demons go; all devils run for cover. AND WE DON'T WANT OUR MISSIONARIES PRAYING LIKE THIS??????????????????????????????????????????????????? GOD HELP US FRIEND GOD HELP US.

 

Paul spoke with tongues as the Spirit of God give him the utterance and Jesus through the Spirit of God is STILL giving those who are hungry for more of Him the utterances today!

Acts 10:44
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
 

The Bible describes, in the 10th chapter of Acts, the circumstances of what took place when the Holy Spirit fell upon the household of Cornelius under the preaching of the Apostle Peter. The Bible says that the Jewish brethren were astonished because "on the Gentiles was also poured out the GIFT of the HOLY GHOST." It then says in the 46th verse which is one of the most interesting to this writer in all the book of Acts:

 

Acts 10:46
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

The reason those with Peter were astonished was because they heard them SPEAK with tongues and MAGNIFY God! The Holy Spirit left NO ROOM for debate or question as to how Peter and those with him KNEW Cornelius's house had received the Holy Ghost (This took place nearly 20 years after Pentecost incidentally). As Peter was preaching, Cornelius and his household got saved and were filled almost instantaneously with the Spirit AND SPOKE WITH TONGUES as a VISIBLE initial sign they had been empowered as prophetic witnesses to the gospel. The tongues were not a sign they had gotten saved but were a sign they had been baptized with the Holy Ghost "as they were on the Day of Pentecost."

 

Acts 10:47
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we (speaking of those with Peter who had been part of the 120 on the Day of Pentecost)?

 

This same empowering is available to ALL today who will hear and believe the word of God as Cornelius did. I have a very strong feeling that Peter's message was not one laced with unbelief or questioned whether tongues were "for now" or passed away at Pentecost. Had the modern church structure been in place THEN as it is today Peter may not have been allowed to preach Pentecost or even to go to Cornelius' house for being told he needed to have psychological counseling for denying Christ. GOD HELP THE MODERN CHURCH. God HELP US come back to LIGHT of the Word of God and the illumination only the SPIRIT OF GOD can give us to light our way and path to Christ.

 

Cornelius experienced the grace of the Spirit by being born again and now they received the baptism OF the Spirit. This event was important to MOST of us reading this journal today for it was here that  the outward sign of tongues confirmed that God had accepted and equipped the Gentiles for service. Peter did not explicitly mention tongues in his message but without doubt they were alluded to in his message concerning Pentecost!

 

Acts 11:15-18
And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. [16] Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. [17] Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? [18] When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Acts 10:47
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

Peter's defense of what took place at Cornelius' house is our defense today for the fact that the INITIAL physical evidence of the baptism in the Holy Ghost is speaking with other tongues as the spirit of God gives the utterance. As Peter retold the Gentile Pentecost, he placed particular stress on the similarity between the outpouring of the Spirit in Caesarea and IN Jerusalem as well as repeating the promise of Jesus who uttered many times:

Peter asked a question this writer asks the modern church, "who or what was I, that I could withstand God?" WHO AND WHAT ARE WE that we think we can withstand God on this matter of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost? Modern preachers think "well I just won't preach about it or talk about it to my people and nothing will happen." Guess what? They're absolutely RIGHT!!!!!!!! NOTHING WILL HAPPEN IN THEIR CHURCHES AND NOTHING DOES HAPPEN. If a mouse squeaks half the congregation dies of heart stroke for the noise. The county morgue has more life than these churches that would be better to put gas tanks outside their doors and pump GAS to the community which would be a better service to the community than the one they are providing parading and acting like they are a church. These same folks in these dead churches though if you get them in a football stadium it's just amazing how alive they become when worshipping the same idols the world worships. AM I MAKING YOU MAD YET? I'm not wanting to but I feel this running all over me right now like water friend.

 

Despite the resistance, God is raising up a generation of HOLY GHOST filled preachers, many of them young men, but a few of us old folks who have been set aside for many years in the wilderness getting our hearts right and heads on straight for this last battle for the hearts and soul of a generation before Jesus comes; a generation of preachers waiting in the wings that's going to bring this much needed and timely message back to the church. You ask, "well, what's going to happen to those who resist this message of God's power?" I can't say and won't say for sure but as Peter's question insinuates, "are we stupid enough to withstand God?????" Stephen asked the religious of Israel, "How long do you resist the Holy Ghost, you stubborn and stiff-necked?"

 

Acts 7:51 -Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
 

Preacher, I don't care how big your church is or how long a list you degrees are. The powers of darkness coming against your soul and your church don't care two bit pens about those degrees or the numbers of people on your church roll. But these same forces of darkness DO TREMBLE at the power of ALMIGHTY God when the Holy Spirit is released among your Body to move in TOTAL freedom that brings an end to Satan's hay day in our fellowships! When the Spirit of God is given total freedom and access souls are saved, bondages broke, sick bodies healed, marriages are restored, a spirit of giving comes upon men and needs are met, captives are set free and the CHURCH GROWS not just in number but in maturity and in POWER!

 

Let the reader be clear of this all important point about what took place at Cornelius' house and the Day of Pentecost:  Speaking in tongues was the important link in this affirmation, since the Spirit had also likewise manifested himself earlier. NO VALID ARGUMENT could be made against what happened either at Pentecost or at the house of Cornelius! The experience of tongues was evidence that Cornelius and his friends were IMMERSED, FILLED, BAPTIZED, IN THE HOLY GHOST and more importantly this tremendous gift was now available to not just Jewish believers, but to Gentile believers as well! Hearing of what happened, the critics stopped their criticism!

 

I wished things were that simple in modern times. Despite the fact that untold SCORES of MILLIONS of born-again believers have been gloriously baptized in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues there are a SCORE of voices behind pulpits who criticize, lampoon, make fun of, mock and deny the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a valid part of the Christian experience and walk with God. I know of one of the largest Baptist churches in Knoxville right now that the leadership spends most of its days during staff meetings lampooning those who speak in tongues and have experienced the mighty Baptism in the Holy Ghost. Neighbor, hear this writer. Mock the Holy Ghost at your own peril oh foolish of heart. Mock the Holy Ghost to the destruction of your church pastor. Mock the Holy Ghost worship leader to the demise of your worship atmosphere on Sunday. This same church has one of the deadest worship services I've ever been in - there's more life in my garage with the rats running around than in the Sunday morning service of that church!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That may be a bit cruel but it GRIEVES THE HOLY GHOST when men of such arrogance and self-righteousness mock Him and what He does through the lives and hearts of believers!

 

I've never ever said that one has to speak in tongues to be saved but I will say this. People who are truly BORN AGAIN will not mock and make fun of that which is spiritual in nature! If they don't understand something totally most of the time they will admit just that. Friend, God understands our ignorance and grants grace and revelation where the heart is hungry to know more but lacks understanding in an area. We received an email from England just 2 days ago along these very lines where a brother in Christ was hungry for what we were writing about but didn't understand everything about the baptism of the Holy Ghost. I emailed him back and told to keep believing and that God would give him the grace to increase his understand and open his heart to receive this glorious gift in due season.

 

What God does not do however and does not condone is WILLFUL ignorance where there is no hunger to know more but an arrogance that declares man knows more than God does which is the attitude most churches take today. God help us. Without the Holy Spirit working in our churches friend there will be no conviction! That is why today we have worship leaders and piano players getting up leading worship on Sunday then visiting gay bars on Monday. That's why our deacons sit on the front row saying "amen" on Sunday for show then visiting the local peep shows and bars on Monday. That's why the Purpose Driven Life has replaced the Bible in most churches. That's why Christians by the millions gleefully cheer the type message Joel Osteen preaches on television. That's why the church sinks into apostasy head strong and doesn't even blink an eye in accepting false doctrine and courting the powers of darkness. That's why we invite so-called Christian "rock" bands into our church and pay them money to perform for our youth in hopes of "getting" the young people out to our church. Let this writer make it clear man of God that your job is NOT to get the young people out to your church but to preach this mighty gospel under the anointing and infilling power and grace of the HOLY GHOST where conviction is so strong in your church that people feel like they are hanging over hell on a broken stick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

If the Holy Ghost was allowed to come into our churches as He so desperately wants to NONE OF THAT WOULD GO ON WITHOUT even a mention or the mere prick of our conscience! Those individuals who are living in sin while professing they know Christ would come under so much conviction they'd either leave our churches or they'd find an altar and REPENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Mock the Holy Ghost pastor all you want to. Make fun of us who speak in tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance. Make fun of all this as jibber-jabber, "just unknown gibberish," as I heard one ignorant individual tell me the other day how she viewed tongues, or "the rantings of the mentally disturbed," as I read on one Independent Baptist website just a little over a month ago. Friend, if the power of God that sets the captive free and gives us a prayer language produce rantings of the mentally disturbed I want to be as disturbed as possible. Satan knows when we pray in tongues, this power rips the powers of HIS kingdom to shreds and tears town strongholds from out of the heavenlies through the power and unction of the Holy Ghost!!!! If all of that is from mentally disturbed individuals then LET THIS WRITER RANT ON AS MENTALLY DISTURBED AS HE CAN BE TILL JESUS COMES HOW ABOUT IT? Some of these fundamentalists are just that "mentalists" themselves and quite frankly need to get saved.

 

Preacher, you're going to stand before Almighty God one day and give an account for your unbelief friend and how you've led millions astray by your darkened heart of unbelief and error. I say that to you in love but I speak it with everything in me that before you go spewing out your denominational venom against what the Lord is helping me write here and you continue to pursue and proclaim ALL your dead theology  that puts people to sleep and sends them to hell - I'd do some SOUL SEARCHING and then BIBLE SEARCHING to allow the HOLY GHOST to reveal to you the TRUTH of this powerful message that is as clear as it can be for the honest seeker of truth. Bring on your emails I don't care. Sit back and grit your teeth and say "he's just way off base and in error" if you want. I'm not writing from a book here friend - I have ONE book open at the present time - THE WORD OF ALMIGHTY GOD and giving you what it has to say in various passages concerning this great outpouring of the Holy Ghost and why the evidence of tongues is so vitally important to the live and walk of the believer in Christ!

Acts 19:6
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

This passage in Acts 19 just confirms more that when the Holy Ghost comes upon people and they are baptized in the Spirit - they will SPEAK with tongues and in some cases prophesy! (THIS IS NOT PREACHING AS SOME ERRONEOUSLY CLAIM BUT A SPIRIT-INSPIRED MESSAGE IN TONGUES FOLLOWED BY THE INTERPRETATION IN THE PERSON'S OWN LANGUAGE WHO IS DOING THE PROPHESYING)

Now, in THREE of these five passages given where experiences are related concerning the infilling of the Holy Spirit - it says that they SPOKE WITH OTHER TONGUES as the SPIRIT OF GOD gives the utterance! The Word tells us that "at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of THREE witnesses, shall all matters be established.

 

Deut. 19:15
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

Even in the two cases of Acts 8 and 9 where there was no direct mention of tongues it was STRONGLY implied this is what took place, especially in the case of Paul who later wrote he "spoke in tongues more than ye all!" Any honest seeker after truth, and that is the issue in this journal, upon studying the WORD OF GOD in this regard, will come to the conclusion that SOMETHING happened when these individuals were filled with the Holy Ghost. That "something" was they SPOKE WITH TONGUES as the Spirit of God gave them the utterance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just because something is not mentioned, as with the case of tongues and the Samaritans Theologian Stanley Horton makes a wonderful point when he says, "Luke often did not explain everything when it was clear elsewhere in his accounts; For example, he does not mention water baptism every time he tells about people believing or being added to the Church, but it is clear that the failure to mention this is not significant nor does it mean it didn't take place each time someone got saved and came into the church; for this reason we can say that the fact Luke does not mention speaking in tongues with the Samaritans is not that significant and certainly does not imply they did not speak with other tongues as Peter and John came down and laid their hands on them."

 

In the three accounts in Acts where the baptism of the Spirit is mentioned the terms "they spake," are uniform; in Ephesians 5:18-19 the command to "speak" to ourselves is also tied into the command to be "continually filled with the Spirit!"

Eph. 5:18-19
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; [19] Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

I mention Ephesians 5:18-19 because this is the passage where we are COMMANDED to be filled with the Spirit; even the COMMAND from the Holy Ghost through Paul in Ephesians carries connotations of SPEAKING to ourselves - IN THE SPIRIT and WITH OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING! When we say we "pray in the Spirit," or "sing in the Spirit," we mean we pray or sing  with other tongues as the SPIRIT OF GOD GIVES THE UTTERANCE!  There are times I also sing and pray with my own understanding as well - a matter we will take up in the next installment of this journal series. The bottom line is this friend -the INITIAL PHYSICAL EVIDENCE ONE HAS BEEN BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY GHOST is the fact one will speak with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance!

 

Some claim that we know we've been filled because we'll find a new beauty manifesting itself in our character. That "new character" should already be taking place through the manifestation of the Fruit of the Spirit if one is BORN AGAIN! When we are saved CHRIST is formed IN US through the power of His Spirit. The FRUIT of the Spirit and the manifestation of the Spirit's POWER are two totally different distinct operations of God. The fruit of the Spirit is the proof of our walking in the Spirit, as ALL Born again believers should do - be them spirit filled or not, it is NOT the proof of the baptism in the Holy Ghost! Fruit always takes time to grow, the divinely appointed proof of the coming of the COMFORTER can be and IS GIVEN instantly! (GEE)

 

We never read in the New Testament - NEVER - that they put Cornelius or others on any type probation for a time to see by their lives whether they had received the Holy Ghost!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rather, His Coming was something to which God gave witness instantly and convincingly. God's DIVINELY CHOSEN SIGN OF THE COMING OF THE HOLY GHOST IN THE LIFE AND HEART OF THE SEEKING BELIEVER IS A SUPERNATURAL MANIFESTATION GIVEN AT THE MOMENT other than SPEAKING WITH OTHER TONGUES AS THE SPIRIT OF GOD GIVES THE UTTERANCE.

 

Yet They Would Not Hear

 

Isaiah 28:11-12
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. [12] To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

 

Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 

Of all the things that took place on the original Pentecost: wind, fire, TONGUES, prophecy - the final choice of the HOLY GHOST both THEN and NOW of the initial EVIDENCE one has been baptized in the Spirit is speaking in a new tongue! God has chosen it for HIS SIGN and we as believers would be wise to ACCEPT it HUMBLY and CHEERFULLY! Isaiah the prophet prophesied that it would be a sign to unbelieving Israel that would be the REST and REFRESHING to those who would heed and listen - but for all this - ISRAEL would not hear and the modern church for all this IS NOT Hearing today but rejecting this very message I speak of!

 

Isaiah 28:11-12
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. [12] To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
 

The condition of being filled with the SPIRIT is recognizable and AUDIBLE! We cannot receive this experience and not know it. I want to state that again. One cannot be baptized in the Holy Ghost and not be for sure they have received this gift or not. If you spoke with other tongues as the Spirit of God gave the utterance - FRIEND YOU'VE BEEN FILLED! If you have not spoken with other tongues then friend I don't mean any disrespect - you have NOT BEEN FILLED with the Spirit according to what the Bible declares is the INITIAL physical evidence. I know there is strong disagreement on that point. Some teach (and I heard a well meaning man of God say this just a few weeks back) that the sign one is spirit-filled is that we become "witnesses," of Jesus.  That is partly true but it is not the INITIAL physical evidence people received in the book of Acts when they got baptized in the Holy Ghost. It doesn't say when the day of Pentecost was come they began to "be witnesses." NO! It says they "began to SPEAK with other tongues as the Spirit of God gave them the utterance!" Some say the sign one has been filled is joy and cheerfulness. That may be one of many other signs one is WALKING in the Fullness of the Spirit of God without a doubt but neighbor it is not the INITIAL physical evidence on has been baptized in the Holy Ghost! There was joy in Samaria BEFORE Peter and John ever showed up at the preaching of Philip. If Joy was all that was required to be filled with the Spirit, Peter and John wasted their trip from Jerusalem there (which was not a short trip in those days). NO! Again, laying hands on the Samaritans was not for them to receive more joy but for them to receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit accompanied by speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gave them the utterance.

 

Going back to the Samaritan revival, one of the Southern Baptist's leading commentators, F.F. Bruce, agrees with Horton's assessment of the Samaritan revival:

 

"The context leaves us in NO DOUBT that their reception of the Spirit was attended by EXTERNAL manifestations such as had marked His descent on the earliest disciples at Pentecost."

 

Mr. Bruce if you were still alive today I'd shake your hand friend and ask you to visit about 99% of the Baptist churches in this city and nation to be frank and repeat what you just said. The revival at Samaria was marked by supernatural manifestations that marked the Spirit's FIRST descent at Pentecost the main one being "and they began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit of God gave them the utterance."

 

Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 

We established quite clearly in the first two journals of this study that we do not in any way, shape, form or fashion, believe or teach that one has to speak in tongues to be saved. HOWEVER, when one IS saved we establish also the fact that we believe the Word of God CLEARLY teaches (it's not given some abstract place in Scripture -it's ALL over the New Covenant) that those who ask the Lord to fill them with His Spirit will speak with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them the utterance!

 

The apostles told the Jerusalem church to select seven men "of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost," a condition that had to have been easily detectable among the early apostles! How could they have picked them out if they had not known who was filled?????? Sadly, the church world today doesn't make being full of the Holy Ghost a requirement any longer for people being in leadership! That is why church pulpit committees bring in hirelings many times instead of shepherds. That is why pastors go out and pick demon-inspired worship leaders instead of SPIRIT-FILLED worship leaders to lead their church because we don't make being spirit-filled a priority! NEIGHBOR, the church needs to get back to the power and moving of the HOLY GHOST!

 

Acts 6:3-5
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. [4] But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word
 

The Evidence of Tongues

 

Acts 2:7-11
And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? [8] And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? [9] Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, [10] Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, [11] Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

What is behind this tremendous gift of tongues one receives when they are baptized in the Holy Ghost. Some speak despairingly of this great gift by saying it is nothing more than babble, chatter, or incoherent jabbering. However, one should be very careful and I mean VERY careful in saying anything about the Holy Ghost! The very fact that each time the term "and they spoke with tongues as the SPIRIT OF GOD gave the utterance," should give us pause right there to know that the SPIRIT OF GOD is the one doing the talking through the individual who is speaking!!!!! The individual is lending their voice yes, but the SPIRIT OF GOD IS DOING THE TALKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For that reason we can easily conclude that speaking in other tongues is not gibberish, jabber, babble or incoherent prattle as some misguided individuals (I would so love to put a few terms here but I'll be nice:) put it.

 

Speaking in tongues is generally a language spoken SOMEWHERE in the world and known by some people in the world OR in heaven! I want to say that again. Speaking in tongues as we just stated are tongues spoken by the Spirit of God and are generally a language spoken SOMEWHERE in the world and known by some people in the world OR in heaven but not the original dialect of the one doing the talking!

 

We are given insight in the 2nd chapter of Acts that there were devout men (from every nation under heaven) and this of course referred to the world known in those days. It says they had come together and were confounded because "how hear we every mean in our own TONGUE, wherein we were born?" It then goes on to list the people who were there. This included:

 

Yet, ALL these disparate people said, "We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God!"

 

Now these individuals gathered on the day of Pentecost (the 120) were NOT preaching to these people to become saved. They were merely praising the Lord in other tongues and speaking a language they had not learned. Some skeptics have tried in vain to explain away as some language the 120 had just learned in the natural. In other words, they had suddenly become linguists and were praising God in languages other than Aramaic, Hebrews, or Greek - the common local tongues. This is not true, however. These were uneducated Galileans who were NOT students of languages - they were fishermen in most cases. Even the Pharisees and Sadducees who would later try to kill them for their message and testimony of Christ declared them to be "unlearned and uneducated men," yet they knew they had been with Jesus! Oh, Praise the Lord!

 

Acts 4:13
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Of course, this is the way it ALWAYS is when individuals speak in tongues. There are hundreds and perhaps THOUSANDS of languages and dialects in this world, and many of them sound very strange to our ears. They are not strange however to the people who routinely converse in them. So it is NOT just jabber, gibberish or chatter or idle babble - it is always a Language that is spoken supernaturally by the believer and understood somewhere in this world, but NOT spoken and understood by the individual who has been filled with the Holy Ghost. Another tactic of skeptics is to use this supernatural gift to say that when missionaries go to school and learn other languages the Holy Spirit fills them with these new languages through education and that is what "speaking in other tongues," really means in Scripture. That is absurd and again the rantings and ravings of the unbelieving, not the heart felt knowledge of the honest seeker of truth! Let the reader beware that there is SO much out there that is stated in the negative about the baptism in the Holy Ghost it is not remotely funny in the least but very sad.

 

If one will notice, whenever it was time to peach to these people about the Lord Jesus Christ and give an invitation to be saved, guess what, SIMON PETER DID NOT CONTINUE SPEAKING IN OTHER TONGUES, but preached in the common language of the day, which was either Aramaic or Hebrew.

 

Acts 2:14
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

Of course, ALL those present understood. It is easy to see how so many people could know the Hebrew language being Jews themselves) and also the language of the country in which they resided. This is common among many people today. And it is also possible that SOME of the 120 h ad learned more than one language BUT the LANGUAGE they  spoke as they were baptized in the Holy Ghost was NOT a language that was known to them - it was a SUPERNATURAL UTTERANCE, given by the HOLY GHOST, which always accompanies this glorious baptism of power! Tongues refers then to languages known either on this earth or in heaven.

 

Tongues of Men And Of Angels

 

1 Cor. 13:1
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

In 1 Cor. 13:1 Paul speaks of tongues of men and of angels, which in essence describes other tongues on which is gives an extensive dissertation later in the 14th chapter. This dissertation deals with both CORPORATE and INDIVIDUAL tongues or as one commentator put it "DEVOTIONAL" and "CORPORATE" tongues. One is for the individual believer, the other for corporate worship services. Let the reader be sure he/she does not confuse the two for many do and get all sorts of confused theology in their brain as a result. Many times Paul addressed tongues in what seems to be a negative way but in reality was merely addressing abuses of tongues in PUBLIC worship, not private devotion! One biggie we'll briefly mention is the role of the interpreter when one is speaking with other tongues. If one is in private devotion or praising God in tongues as unto the Lord - they don't need an interpreter present to do so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I never will forget my brother telling me of a recent evangelistic crusade he attended when the evangelist spoke in tongues during the message and some cabbage-headed saint behind him started speaking out "well my Bible tells me he needs an interpreter to be doing that." NO, he did not need an interpreter for that! If he were addressing the crowd with a MESSAGE in tongues which is in reality the "GIFT OF TONGUES and INTERPRETATION," as recorded in 1 Corinthians 12 - THEN the role of the interpreter would have been an issue. For the evangelist to be preaching and just start praising God in tongues there was no need for an interpreter. The praise he was given was between him and God - the LORD knew exactly what He was saying and there was probably a small chance that someone in the audience could have been present who understood that language he was speaking and understood it. My brother didn't' indicate anything like that took place but I've seen that and been part of such an experience.

 

In 1994 we were privileged to host a Spanish speaking exchange student who was not saved but went to church with us each Sunday. One morning our pastor got up and did basically the same thing this brother did at the crusade my brother spoke of and praised God in tongues. No one in the audience said a word except just join in with him praising God as well. Our guest however sat on the back row of that church that morning and began to weep as the Spirit of God dealt with her heart through what our pastor spoke while speaking in tongues. She came to me later that day crying and said, "the man with the Bible in hand up front this morning said to me "Praise the Lord Jesus Christ, Who IS The Only God and Lord of all " and kept repeating it in Spanish - how did he know Spanish??" It shook her up so bad that she wound up in tears. We told her about Jesus that day and planted a seed. She would not give her heart to the Lord then and I haven't heard from her since she left in early 1995 to go back home to Spain but we can only pray that the seed planted on that Sunday morning BY A MAN OF GOD obeying the Spirit of God and speaking in a tongue not known to him but known to a Spanish exchange student from Barcelona visiting a church for the first time will spring forth one day before it's too late and she'll come to Christ and become a light to nation bound by the powers of darkness!

 

That's why neighbor this is important what I write to you about today. The reason the lady at the crusade my brother attended recently  said what she said was that she was offended at anyone speaking in tongues period and even if there had been an interpretation present she would have found some other fault with what went on. That sadly is the state of mind of MILLIONS of disengaged Christians from the realities of the Word of God and what it says on this matter. I'm giving scripture references left and right in this journal series but I encourage you to study this out for yourself if you don't feel you can believe what I'm writing. READ THE BOOK for yourself and hear what the Spirit of God says about this! Stop listening to your backslidden unbelieving pastor who needs this enduement of power as much as you do friend, if not more. On a humorous note - my brother said it took everything in him not to turn around and say "Lady, here is the interpretation of that message" and let her know in no uncertain terms how she needed to get her heart right with God. Of course he said the Holy Ghost in him said "NO, let ME deal with her, not you."

There are times when people speak in tongues that are heavenly languages and not known on this earth. I don't think we can be entirely positive but Paul used the term "tongues of angels," which gives weight to that thought. Either way, whether it be tongues of men or tongues of angels, ALL utterances given to the believer as a result of being baptized in the Spirit are given by the SPIRIT Himself and always "glorifies God," and magnifies His wondrous works!

 

Acts 2:11
Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
 

Why Tongues?

As we close this third installment of this series let me take a brief look at why the Lord choses "tongues" for the sign one has been filled with His Spirit. God has certainly good reasons for doing ALL things He's done over the millennia, and the same is true in this matter. One must remember that what took place at Pentecost was prophesied by both JOEL and ISAIAH. Joel prophesied the outpouring and Isaiah prophesied that through TONGUES the Lord would speak to His people and that men would "with stammering lips and and unknown tongue," speak to nations!

 

Isaiah 28:11-12
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. [12] To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

1 Cor. 14:21
In the law it is written (referring to Isaiah 28:11-12), With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

Isaiah went on to add that even though the Lord would arrange this mighty sign, men would not listen to Him, which is a terrible indictment against the human race today even now. It was an indictment against the nation of Israel in Isaiah's day but it is an indictment against the apostate church today!

 

Following are some reasons what the Word of God says are reasons why God chose speaking in tongues as the INITIAL sign pointing to one who has been baptized in the Holy Spirit:

 


In our next installment we will take a look at the good that is accomplished when one speaks in tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance.

 

To summarize once again to make these points as clear as we can make them: at salvation, the believing sinner is influenced by the Holy Ghost through the Spirit's work of conviction; when the sinner is saved the Holy Ghost takes up permanent residence in that person's heart and life as one is BORN of the Spirit. Yes, the Spirit of God indwells us at salvation but without the believer moving on to the baptism of the Holy Ghost the Spirit of God at salvation becomes stagnant and is hindered many times to do any more. After Salvation when we are endued with power for service, He is released in our heart and lives to do what is necessary to make us witnesses for CHRIST! Salvation and the baptism in the Holy Ghost are two separate and distinct experiences FOR TODAY. They are different to source, time and nature. One must be saved FIRST, THEN that one can experience the mighty baptism in the Holy Ghost.

 

We are told by the Spirit of God to be "FILLED with the Holy Ghost," and filled we must be. You can't fill a bottle or well that is already full! That in itself should tell us that believers are not automatically "filled" with the Spirit at salvation but are commanded to be so AFTER they get saved.  Friend, we all need the baptism in the Holy Ghost today! HE (JESUS) will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with FIRE! He so wants you to ASK Him to do that today. In Jesus name, we declare it over ALL those reading this journal and hungry for God. This writer is not ashamed to tell you that 20 years ago he was gloriously filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gave the utterance. I pray in tongues everyday; sing in tongues everyday; speak in tongues everyday; I lay hands on my sons and daughters and pray over them - sometimes in English but other times I allow the Spirit of God to pray through me; I'm learning to lean daily on the Spirit's guidance and depend SOLELY on His power and work.

 

I'm talking to Pentecostals now. Some of you reading this journal have drifted from the ministry and power of the Spirit's work of intercession through the utterances of tongues. You say, "I was baptized six years ago, five years ago, two years ago, etc." But I ask you "where are you today?" Do you speak in tongues each day as the Sprit gives the utterance? Do you need a re-filling of the Spirit? He wants to RE-FILL those who need a refreshing. Isaiah called it just that "a refreshing" and a "rest" of which He will cause the weary to rest. It's a GRAND and GLORIOUS feeling as the old gospel says - and neighbor this writer it not ashamed to put his name which is not worth anything anyway but to lay his heart before you and tell you this experience is REAL and it's for YOU today.

 

I leave you with the words of a precious song that has been ringing in my heart for weeks:

 

He will fill your hearts today with overflowing

Bring your vessels not a few, As the Lord commanded you

He will fill your hearts today with overflowing

With the Holy Ghost and Fire

 

HE WILL FILL YOUR HEARTS TODAY FRIEND WITH OVERFLOWING; JUST BRING HIM THE VESSEL OF YOUR HEART TODAY IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN.

 

cmc4jesus@aol.com

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